A group of pro-Palestinian activists has filed a lawsuit in the Netherlands, accusing the country of violating international law by selling weapons to Israel. The complaint, lodged on Friday, follows the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes.
If the court rules in favor of the activists, the Netherlands could be prohibited from exporting weapons and parts to Israel, as well as engaging in trade with the occupied Palestinian territories. The case is centered on allegations that the Netherlands is complicit in war crimes, referencing the ICC’s actions and past rulings by the International Court of Justice suggesting that Palestinians may be deprived of rights protected under international law.
In defense, Dutch government officials argue that all foreign policy decisions, including arms sales, are made with careful consideration. Government lawyer Reimer Veldhuis stated that the court should not interfere in the state’s ability to make decisions about foreign relations.
The lawsuit also touches on the issue of taxpayer money being used to fund actions that harm Palestinian civilians. Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for the activist group Al-Haq, shared his personal grief, explaining that he lost 18 family members to the violence in Gaza. He argued that Dutch citizens are indirectly contributing to the suffering of his people.
In a separate legal matter, the ICC’s arrest warrants accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of using starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally targeting civilians during the conflict in Gaza, allegations that Israeli officials deny.
Dutch officials have committed to cooperating with the ICC, stating they would arrest Netanyahu if he sets foot on Dutch soil. However, the case has sparked political controversy in the Netherlands, with right-wing leader Geert Wilders condemning the ICC’s actions and expressing his intention to visit Netanyahu in Israel, further deepening divisions within the Dutch coalition government.
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on the lawsuit by December 13.